PIETER HENKET CONGO TALES
Exotic, Lush and Human
On exhibition for the first time through a U.S. gallery, the Howard Greenberg Gallery is showing Pieter Henket’s Congo Tales via its online viewing room. A display of masterful chronicling, Congo Tales showcases the dedicated art of storytelling throughout extended generations. By working in tandem with the Congolese people of the Mbomo region, rich narratives are brought to life. Akin to precious heirlooms ordained with wisdom and morality, they span across all ages and through time.
Five years ago, Dutch photographer Pieter Henket was first approached by the Tales of Us initiative, a multimedia platform focused on at-risk areas and individuals with an emphasis on environmental conservation. The Congo Basin in Central Africa, as the second-largest rain forest in the world, remains a central focus. In 2017, to gain a deeper insight of the Congo, Henket trekked into the Mbomo region with his husband and a crew of adept individuals, including two Congolese brothers; one an artist and philosopher, the other a musician and writer.
Henket spoke with PROVOKR, saying, “We learned that the myths and the tales of the people have never been documented, so we decided to start collecting tales. Someone had told the team that, “When an old person dies, it is like a library of stories burning down.””
As allies to the Congolese people, Henket and his team retell the stories of culturally distant, yet inherently kindred people. With deliberate consideration and visual proficiency, Henket’s work brings to light Congolese stories, the people remaining at the focal point. Henket commented, “Because my work is often cinematic and I grew up in a mystical forest myself, I thought it would be interesting to ask the people to be the actors in their own stories.”
With the narratives taking titles such as The Last Father, The Rainbow Python, The Bird Girl, and The Story Tree, children, men, and women pose with handcrafted props and costumes. Under the shade of leafy trees, within the heart of the jungle, or against the backdrop of their town walls, each image offers insight into the intricate details of countless past lives.
Henket speaks on his ambition to play his part in bettering the world, delving deep and using photography as a means of social rectification. “[What was] very interesting was working with people that have had little to no contact with a camera before. The purity in which they expressed their stories was touching. The people in the photos were able to tell so much with just their eyes.”
The exhibition is available for viewing here, at the Howard Greenberg Gallery.
